i also try and get 3-4 more Cardio sessions in a week... I usually grab an hour long walk Saturday and Sunday morning.

So as far as diet goes, i just have to try and get my clean calories in between the hours of 1pm to 9pm with my biggest meal being post workout. I can have amino powder every few hours, it is a must before my fasted cardio.

That all sounds pretty straight forward and really easy.

Couple of questions:
- Can i still manipulate carbs with this? I have been having some success going very low carb (just around weight training days) and then going heavy carb on weekends. Can i still do this?

Should i be taking my need2slin during my fasted period or just save for feeding?

Couple of questions:
- Can i still manipulate carbs with this? I have been having some success going very low carb (just around weight training days) and then going heavy carb on weekends. Can i still do this?Yes you can still do this. Carb cycling, anabolic diet can be used with leangains. Remember your total calories though and eat for your goals even on your carb ups. You have to be careful and make sure you are eating enough because the first time I did leangains, I paired it with a gluten free diet and I lost too much weight.

Should i be taking my need2slin during my fasted period or just save for feeding?

The carb cycling diet and leangains helps with utilizing carbs. You could save your need2slin for the weekend refeeds and maybe with your biggest meal, but I wouldn't take it during a prolonged fasted state, but thats just me.

The aminos are only used on training days and only if training fasted. You take 10 grams 5-15 minutes before training, 10 grams an hour after, and 10 grams every 2 hours after that until your first meal. I use them because I train fasted early AM, this is what my schedule looks like:

As I recall, LG exempts anything less than 50cals from breaking the fast, i.e. adding a tsp of creamer to your coffee doesn't count as breaking the fast. So, unless you're consuming just a ton of amino acids, the calories should be negligible.

It's all been covered on the LeanGains website & on the IF thread here on AM, but BCAAs should only be taken before/during/after fasted workouts - you are breaking the fast & slowing any possible fat loss.

It's all been covered on the LeanGains website & on the IF thread here on AM, but BCAAs should only be taken before/during/after fasted workouts - you are breaking the fast & slowing any possible fat loss.

By definition, any caloric intake is breaking the fast. BCAAs elevate insulin levels - doesn't really matter how much, they still do. Is it a huge big deal? doubtful. Will it set your progress back? Probably not much.

Not arguing - just clarifying - This pops up a lot in IF & LeanGains discussions & (as far as LG goes) Martin's pretty clear about it -

By definition, any caloric intake is breaking the fast. BCAAs elevate insulin levels - doesn't really matter how much, they still do. Is it a huge big deal? doubtful. Will it set your progress back? Probably not much.

Not arguing - just clarifying - This pops up a lot in IF & LeanGains discussions & (as far as LG goes) Martin's pretty clear about it -

Yes he is - according to him, anything less than 50cals doesn't break the fast.

Edit: Additionally, from an FAQ he tweeted a while back: "As BCAAs are amino acids that make up protein, they definitely have caloric weight. Fasting is not an on/off switch - ingesting 10 calories won't suddenly turn fasting "off." Taking 10 grams of BCAA is ok."

Yes he is - according to him, anything less than 50cals doesn't break the fast.

Edit: Additionally, from an FAQ he tweeted a while back: "As BCAAs are amino acids that make up protein, they definitely have caloric weight. Fasting is not an on/off switch - ingesting 10 calories won't suddenly turn fasting "off." Taking 10 grams of BCAA is ok."

He suggests BCAAs on workout days but I have yet to read where he suggests them on off days

He suggests BCAAs on workout days but I have yet to read where he suggests them on off days

Lets not be so dogmatic, otherwise we will suffer from the same biases he ridicules. Just stick to the general principles and apply common sense. If BCAAs help you with the hunger pangs then use them. Whilst they will elicit an insulin response the amplitude and duration of the response will be small and your body will return to baseline quickly.

I did 3 trial days and built up the fast 12 to 14 hours.I will be doing 16/8 starting Monday. I found the BCAA's (Xtend) def helped. I was actually surprised how easy it was. I usually have a monster appetite when I get up. I usually always go over my cals for the day also. This method really gives you surprising control over your appetite.